05.10.06
Posted in Law at 10:15 am by Administrator
Here’s an interesting (hypothetical) legal question for you:
Suppose there are two hit-and-runs in a town on a certain night. The police apprehend two suspects and are able to prove that each suspect hit someone that night, but they can’t prove which victim belongs to which suspect.
Now suppose there are two shootings at opposite ends of a large building at the same time. Everyone in the building is tested and two people have powder residue on their hands. Again, police are unable to connect either suspect with their respective victim. There is also no evidence of conspiracy between the suspects.
Both situations are fundamentally the same. In each case, it’s obvious that each suspect is guilty of one of the crimes; but it’s impossible to know which one. (This assumes both suspects keep their mouths shut.) My question is: could the DA get any convictions at a trial? Wouldn’t the existence of the other crime create a reasonable doubt that the defendant was involved with the crime in question?
I don’t know.
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05.08.06
Posted in Art & Drama, Humor, NIU at 2:32 pm by Administrator
Here’s a typical example of NIU’s silly outdoor sculpture:
I suspect it’s some sort of portal to another universe. So far, however, I haven’t been able to turn it on.
The sad part is: Compared with some of the other sculpture here, this piece is actually not that bad. It doesn’t say anything particularly meaningful; but it’s well done for a (chopped up) rock with a hole in it. Note the Picasso imitation in the background.
Maybe it really is a portal. I wonder if they have lots of Zeppelins on the other side.
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05.06.06
Posted in Art & Drama, Architecture at 1:50 pm by Administrator
After almost five years, they’ve finally begun pouring the foundation for Freedom Tower. The final design doesn’t look half as bad as it did, but I still wish they would have gone with the Twin Towers 2 concept. [Insert Donald Trump quote here.]
The symbolic power of the original WTC towers was obvious. Why do you think the terrorists attacked them twice? By replacing two big towers with a single smaller tower, we’ve essentially said: “We give up! If we rebuild them they’ll just knock them down again.”
Much more troubling to me than the Freedom Tower, is the design and content of the proposed World Trade Center Memorial. Some of the planned exhibits could even be interpreted as justifying the attacks. Back to skyscrapers though.
The recent burst of activity on the Chicago skyscraper front is encouraging. The current emphasis is on hotels and residential units rather than business structures.
The construction of Trump International Tower in Chicago is proceeding nicely. I tend to prefer square corners in skyscrapers designed for offices, but I think the rounded corners of Trump’s building are somehow more appropriate for its residential nature. Don’t ask me why. (How much do you think the condos on the top floor will cost?)
Also under construction in Chicago is the Waterview Tower, a Shangri-La luxury hotel. It won’t be quite as tall as the Trump International Tower, but it’s website promises traditional Asian hospitality. Sounds good to me. The building isn’t unattractive either.
On the other hand, Fordham Spire, a proposed residential skyscraper for Chicago looks like it’s been heated by a blowtorch and twisted with a pair of pliers. I don’t think it’s ugly per se; I just don’t like it. Maybe I’ll get lucky and the deal will fall through.
Whatever the case, this trend of residential skyscrapers will make some Bryan Larsen paintings a little more realistic. (How cool it would be to live in a place like that!)
More on this later. I’m looking for submissions for a “World’s Ugliest Skyscrapers” list. Let me know what you think. (I’m pretty sure the top prize will go to the Taipei 101. )
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05.04.06
Posted in General, Art & Drama, Philosophy at 1:51 pm by Administrator
The Post Office may be an inefficient, monopolistic, government run bureaucracy; but they sure do sponsor some nice stamps. Nick Gaetano’s art deco style is perfect for a postage stamp featuring Ayn Rand.
My sheet finally got back from the framer and she did a great job as usual:
I decided to hang it in my office. My business involves a lot of mailing so this is a perfect addition to the room.
Despite a few good ones, most of the stamp themes the Post Office issues are rather boring. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of some new stamp themes for the Postmaster General to consider.
- Robert A. Heinlein (The background has some interesting possibilities. Think “I Will Fear No Evil.”)
- Recent Hubble Photos (Not that stupid “Constellations” set they issued last year.)
- U.S. Small Arms of WWII
- Pulp SciFi Paperback Covers from the Sixties
- Frank Loyd Wright Buildings (I’m in the process of buying the stamps featuring his face.)
- Shock and Awe
- Famous Pills (Aspirin, Valium, Prozac, Viagra, etc.)
- U.S. Wartime Propaganda Posters
- B-Movies
- Rocky and Bullwinkle
There are so many possibilities.
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05.02.06
Posted in Politics, Money & Finance, World at 1:06 am by Administrator
Apparently as a sort of May Day celebration, Bolivia’s socialist president Evo Morales has decided to nationalize the country’s natural gas production. Declaring, “The looting by the foreign companies has ended,” Morales sent troops to occupy gas fields tapped by multinational companies such as Exxon-Mobil and BP PLC. Unless the foreign companies agree to sign new (extortionary) contracts within six months, they will be evicted.
This is not altogether surprising. Bolivia is the most recent in a long list of countries to have been “returned to the natives,” and “the natives” always seem to do the same thing.
I suggest that ALL the foreign companies pack up and leave NOW (Burning their infrastructure would probably be too much to ask). It would be a short term loss but a long term gain. It’s likely Morales plans to seize them anyway as soon as the state owned gas company is ready to take over production. Compliance by the corporations would encourage every other Mugabe and Castro to try something similar (not that they don’t already).
It will be interesting to see if the existing companies choose to put up with this sort of extortion. I suspect they’ll go more by the numbers than by any sort of principle. Any bets as to the effect total nationalization would have on Bolivia’s natural gas production?
Note: Bolivia has not yet nationalized production of its most popular export, so the supply will likely be unaffected. Whew.
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05.01.06
Posted in General, Politics at 1:16 am by Administrator
Is there such thing as an anti-holiday?
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